Before talking about Schengen visa types, what is the meaning of Schengen itself? Schengen is a treaty and an agreement ratified by various European countries that include as the European Union member to end border checkpoints and control the travel of citizens of those countries. Those countries established Schengen area, it is a special area that allows EU member states to freely travel and move from one country to another. In order to travel freely within Schengen Area, visitors need Schengen Visa. They can use this Schengen visa until its validity is ended or exceed the limit of the period. There are three of Schengen Visa types issued by certain embassy or consulate in every Schengen countries. They are Uniform Schengen Visas (USV), Limited territorial validity visas (LTV), and National Visas. Different Schengen visa types have different rules and restrictions. It depends on the nature of traveling and other relevant circumstances.
UNIFORM SCHENGEN VISAS
Uniform Schengen Visas:
This visa permits the citizens from other countries to transit and resides in the desired territory. They are able to stay in the desired country for a certain period of time with maximum 90 days in the six-month period. It starts from the date when the person enters the country. According to the purpose of traveling, the Uniform Schengen visa only applicable for two categories A and C. A category is for Airport Transit Visa and C category is for Short term visa. This airport transit visa is for the citizens who are traveling to the non-Schengen state during a change of flights in a Schengen Country airport. Short-term visa is for foreign countries citizens who want to stay in other Schengen countries for certain period of time depending on its validity. In addition, the Uniform Schengen Visa only works for these following countries:
1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Czech Republic
4. Denmark
5. Estonia
6. Finland
7. France
8. Germany
9. Greece
10. Hungary
11. Iceland
12. Italy
13. Latvia
14. Lithuania
15. Luxembourg
16. Malta
17. Netherlands
18. Norway
19. Poland
20. Portugal
21. Slovakia
22. Slovenia
23. Spain
24. Sweden
25. Switzerland.
LIMITED TERRITORIAL VALIDITY VISAS
Limited territorial validity visas:
Different with the Uniform Schengen Visa, this visa only allows the person to travel in the Schengen states that have issued the visa or certain Schengen states that have been specifically mentioned when the person applying for the visa. Except for the Schengen countries, the limited territorial validity visa is invalid to any Schengen countries which are not being specified for. A person who brings this visa cannot enter or transit through any Schengen countries that do not become an official destination. Usually, this type of visa is issued for particular reasons such as for humanitarian reasons or the person is under international obligation as an exception to the Uniform Schengen Visa system.
NATIONAL VISA
National Visa:
National Visa is one of the Schengen visa types that commonly granted for the person with D category. This category is for individuals who go to other Schengen countries for studying, working, or permanently residing. A person with a National visa can reside or stay in the Schengen countries for a certain period of time. After the period ends, he or she shall return to their home country. This visa is known as multi-entry national visa that allows its holder to go or out of the particular Schengen countries as they like. They also can travel to all of the Schengen countries without additional visa requirements.
To get a national visa or multi entry national visa, the persons must meet at least on of these criteria:
1. A Foreign student with visa is no more than one year.
2. A Foreign student that is about to start a full course of study in the Schengen countries for one-year period.
3. A person who work in the institution or research center in Schengen countries.
4. A professional who is traveling to any Schengen countries. It can be a sportsman, an artist or any professional who come to share their expertise.
5. The person in emergency cases such as medical condition.
Remember that under the regulation of the European Parliament and the Council, all of the Schengen visa types above only valid for no more than 90 days during 180-day period.
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